Our view: State's children need all of our support

No doubt about it. Tennessee children must be prepared to perform the jobs of the future, if the state is going to be competitive in recruiting new, better-paying jobs.

To that purpose, public schools are following the new Core Curriculum program that puts emphasis on practical applications of math and reading. The promise is a generation of critical thinkers able to perform the more complex tasks the future is certain to require. But the responsibility for educating a new generation of higher-skilled thinkers cannot all rest on the shoulders of Tennessee teachers.

That's why we are pleased the annual Tennessee Early Childhood Summit held this past week in Nashville focused on families, schools and communities working together for the success of the state's children.

One way to accomplish that partnership is with a website, www.kidcentraltn.com, developed for parents. Parents can type in their ZIP code and receive information specific to their community.

The website directs parents to afterschool programs in their area, kindergarten-readiness requirements, special education services, crisis intervention and much more.

It even offers practical suggestions on how adults can make reading to children each day an optimal learning experience.

In addition to the website, a new "school-readiness model" for preschool education was introduced at the summit. The model sets specific goals for families, schools and communities to pursue to properly prepare young children for kindergarten.

Implementation of the model would result in parents helping their children prepare for school by reading to them more often. The schools would focus more teacher training on how to transition children into kindergarten. And community institutions, such as churches, libraries and recreation centers, should create events for families with young children.

National education expert Carol Brunson Day, who helped develop the school readiness model as a consultant to the children's cabinet, said many states focus only on creating a list of skills children should have before entering kindergarten. But Tennessee has decided to make clear who is responsible for building those skills.

"Tennessee's model recognizes the critical importance of the three systems that surround children: the family, the school ? the community," she said. "It charges us to ignite action."

The state's new website and readiness program provide a road map to help our children be successful students and adults. We encourage everyone to get on board with the plan and make sure our children remain on the path to success.

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Our view: State's children need all of our support

No doubt about it. Tennessee children must be prepared to perform the jobs of the future, if the state is going to be competitive in recruiting new, better-paying jobs.